NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK, by Judy Ann Sadler, Illustrated by VIGG, Kids Can Press

Thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC to read and provide my honest review.

Description
Reader, don’t waste your time with this book. “You might as well stick it back on the shelf,” the narrator warns. “Or toss it under your bed. You don’t need to read it because it looks like nothing happens in this book.” But, wait, he’s spotted something. There’s a trumpet without a trumpeter. And there’s a tiny car without a driver. And a baton without a twirler. Maybe if you keep turning the pages, you’ll find out who is missing these items. Maybe they are all together, getting ready to do something awesome.

Maybe something amazing does happen in this book after all! The text and visual narrative work hand in hand in this playful, page-turning meta picture book, encouraging children to join in on the quest to find the seemingly missing story. By speaking directly to readers, Judy Ann Sadler’s intriguing story piques their curiosity, and award-winning Vigg’s quirky, humorous illustrations slowly reveal hints about the story that allow readers to piece together the mystery before the narrator does. This book makes for an engaging read-aloud that invites enthusiastic audience participation. The question underlying all the fun — what elements are needed for a story? — couples nicely with classroom story-building and writing exercises. In a special touch, the busy parade at the end of the book appears on a gatefold spread.
Available Editions
EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781771387378
PRICE $18.99 (CAD)

MY BOOK REVIEW:

The description neatly expresses everything I’m thinking about this book, but I will add the following:

The story is well laid out, with building to a wonderful finish. This is a picture book aimed at a very young readership. Because some of the phrases are difficult, it might be a great book to be read with a parent. Lots of fun is drawn and written within the pages, giving the reader lots to look at and ponder over. It’s a great book for home and school and I would recommend it to very early readers!

Every illustrator has their own style, this one isn’t really my favorite, but the brightly used colors and designs, the silly characters with big noses, are interesting enough for young children.